Beauty Legacy’s bad racing manners cost him any chance of Classic glory earlier this term but Joao Moreira is hoping a drop in trip might prove to be a tonic for the talented gelding’s fierce attitude.

The top-weight (133lb) is set to take on 13 rivals in a quality-packed Class 2 Austin Handicap over 1400m at Sha Tin on Sunday (12 April), and he will be seeking some kind of redemption for the vexed conduct that saw him place 11th in an 1800m Class 2 last month. That run, off the back of a similar display in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), scuppered plans for Beauty Legacy to take his place in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

“In his two previous starts I had to fight him quite a bit to try and hold his temper, he was just fighting me badly and I couldn’t let him go because I had horses around me,” Moreira said of the John Size-trained galloper.

“There’s no doubts he was not able to produce his best his last two starts because of his temper. He was really wanting to over-race with me and he was using every bit of energy he’s got fighting me down the back straight, and, turning for home, he’d already tired as he’d used all of his energy doing that.”

Beauty Legacy raced as Hawkshot in Australia pre-import and he did so from the front for a win in the G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) and second-place in the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m). But he also scored with a last-to-first swoop in lesser grade over 1200m and with a stretch to 2000m planned for the Hong Kong Derby, Size and Moreira attempted to teach the four-year-old to settle back and conserve energy.

That worked for an impressive first-up win at Sha Tin over 1400m on 5 January and the approach wasn’t a failure when Beauty Legacy placed fourth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile – then came his latest two head-pulling, rider-resenting performances.

But in his most recent trial – 1200m on dirt – Moreira allowed the son of Fiorente to roll along in front and the brown galloper moved easily, seemingly relishing the unobstructed breeze at his face.

“The other day, when I let him use the speed he has, and let him roll forward at the trial, he definitely felt much better – he felt more comfortable and the strength that he was able to show me at the end was really good,” Moreira noted.

But the Brazilian also emphasised that the trial performance should not be taken as confirmation that Beauty Legacy will return to front-running tactics.

“I’m not indicating that he must lead or we are intending to lead but he has indicated that a faster run race, over a shorter distance may suit him better,” he said. “Usually, when this kind of horse goes back in distance and the pace is a bit faster, they just enjoy that so much and I think that’s going to be the case with this guy.

“He seems very healthy, he trials very good and I couldn’t be asking for better of him than what he’s been showing us lately in his trials and trackwork.”

Decrypt down in distance

Another horse stepping down in trip, as well as back into handicap company after a Classic campaign, is the Frankie Lor-trained Decrypt (128lb) who holds an engagement in the G1 FWD Champions Mile on 26 April.

The diminutive grey placed third in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas (1600m) last year and was a fair seventh in the BMW Hong Kong Derby over 2000m last start. He also ran eighth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) in January but his best efforts since import have been three placed runs over 1400m in Class 2.

“Last time in the Derby he finished off very well, especially because it was his first time over 2000 metres and Chad Schofield rode a very good race aboard him that day,” Lor said. “Now he’s back to 1400 (metres) on Sunday and at this moment this distance and 1600 (metres) might be his best – we’re still learning about him.”

Zac Purton was aboard for each of the colt’s three previous Class 2 efforts and will be back holding on the reins at the weekend.

“Zac has ridden him for three gallops since his Derby run, the horse looks ok coming out of the Derby,” Lor said.

Should Decrypt perform with merit, a clash with Hong Kong’s supreme champion Beauty Generation could be on the cards in the Champions Mile although Lor might take up a softer option.

“I entered him for the Champions Mile but there is a Class 2 over 1600 metres on Champions Day so we can decide after Sunday which race he will go toward,” he said.

“We’re still learning a lot about him, I do think that next season he should be even better but he’s quite straightforward, he’s an easy horse to train. He’s still a colt but he’s not a crazy horse, it definitely hasn’t affected him.”

General’s primed

General’s Delight (115lb) returned from an ailment to run a fine third last time and trainer Douglas Whyte is looking for another positive performance from his well-regarded four-year-old at his third Hong Kong start.

The Fastnet Rock gelding had a solid reputation – thanks to two wins and a Listed placing in Australia – when he lined up for his Sha Tin debut back in November but ran home a disappointing 11th. That dull effort was forgiven when it was found that the bay suffered a heart irregularity and after enjoying a break, he returned last month over the course and distance to finish a short-head back in a three-way photo.

“He was probably a bit unlucky, the horse got held up and lost momentum for a couple of strides – being a 1200lb horse with 133lb on his back I thought he showed a bit of tenacity to find his rhythm again and attack the line the way he did,” Whyte said.

“Everyone has always known that he’s a nice horse going forward and it’s unfortunate what happened first time but fortunately he’s over that and probably, if anything, he’s better than last time – he’d have to be because it’s a hot race and it’s going to be his acid test. We’ll find out how good he is at the weekend.”

Matthew Chadwick is booked to take the reins.

The field for Sunday’s final of 11 races also features the Danny Shum-trained Perfect Match (128lb), last start winner All In Mind from the Tony Cruz stable, and the Tony Millard-trained Super Star (117lb).

The action starts at 12.30pm with the season’s first Griffin race, the Yau Ma Tei Plate (1000m).